Tick Tock Taylor from Hazel Mitchell

In your bookstores soon will be the first chapter book in a series of four featuring mini cheerleaders!

Written by Anastasia Suen and published by Kane and Miller each book in the All-Star Cheerleaders series will follow one member of the Glitter squad as they practice, compete, make new friends, learn new moves and most of all ... have fun! 

I know I had a lot of fun creating Tick Tock!

Being from England originally I don't have a lot of experience with cheerleading, so it was interesting to research and find out more. I can totally see why girls are in to it. I also had to learn about the moves and the holds for the black and white images in the book.

 I started out with some rough character sketches ...

 

Then I inked by hand with a dipping ink pen because it gives a lively line. You have to be quick though or you get blots.

 I added the grayscale shading in photoshop.

Here are a few more of the interior illustrations:

 

So if you have a young cheerleader or wannabe in your life watch out for Tick Tock Taylor coming soon! Looking forward to illustrating the next book n the series!

Thanks for visiting Pixel Shavings.

See more of my work online at hazelmitchell.com

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http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/HazelMitchellSketchbook

Call back next week to join the fun here on Pixel Shavings with Russ Cox.

Toodles!

Hazel

Lost and Found - Hazel Mitchell

I have been concentrating lately on getting more emotion into my illustrations, enhanced by mood and lighting. I have also trying out a looser style, working to get the drawing down in the first try to keep the spontaneity of line and thought.

So this piece is pencil with minimal colouring in photoshop.

And this is the original sketch.

Below is a sketch with a more light-hearted feeling. Perhaps suitable for a magazine.

 

I finished this one in hand dipping ink pen and tinted in Photoshop.

Right now I am working on a book for Charlesbridge Publishing called 'Hidden New Jersey' and chapter book illustrations for Kane and Miller Publishing. 

Looking forward to sharing those with you in the future here on Pixel Shavings!

See more of my illustrations on Facebook 

at 

Hazel Mitchell Sketchbook

or

hazelmitchell.com